WICHITA, KS - The KCAC has two conference teams participating in the NAIA Men's Basketball Division II National Championship Tournament starting on March 10.  Friends University is representing the conference as the KCAC Tournament and Regular Season Champion.  McPherson College is representing the conference as the KCAC Regular Season Runner-up.

 

 

Friends University enters the National Tournament as KCAC Regular Season and Conference Tournament Champions with a record of 25-6. The Falcons will face Bethel College from Indiana, which has a record of 27-6. Friends University ranks in the top 25 nationally in free throw percentage (8^th, 73.8%), total rebound defense (13^th, 31.839 RPG), 3-point field goal percentage defense (16^th, 30.7%), turnover margin (20^th, 2.484 TPG), and assist to turnover ratio (1.028). The Falcons have two of the KCAC's top five leading scorers, and two First Team All-Conference players in Junior Forward Chris Jackson (2^nd in KCAC, 18.29 PPG) and Senior Forward Romar Jones (5^th in KCAC, 17.13 PPG). Jones was named KCAC Player of the Year and leads the team in rebounding with 5.87 rebounds per game. Senior Guard Avery Richardson leads the team in assists with 3.48 assists per game. Friends University is coached by Dale Faber, the KCAC Coach of the Year, and has won 18 of their last 19 games.

Bethel College ranks in the top 10 nationally in free throw percentage (10^th, 73.6%), field goal percentage (9^th, 48.8%), total rebound margin (9^th, 7.33 RPG), scoring margin (9^th, 13.152 PPG), and total scoring offense (7^th, 2712). The Bethel College Pilots have five players who average in double figures in scoring. Senior Guard Ryne Lightfoot leads the team with 17.49 points per game and 2.91 assists per game. Senior Forward Tyler Brown is second on the team with 14.82 points per game and leads the team with 7.19 rebounds per game. Bethel College finished second in the Mid-Central College Conference.

McPherson College enters the National Tournament with a 20-8 overall record. The Bulldogs will face Dakota Wesleyan University, which has a record of 27-5. McPherson College ranks in the top 20 in six team categories. McPherson College is 8^th in 3-point field goal defense (29.8%) and field goal percentage defense (39.5%). The Bulldogs are also in the top 20 in total rebound margin (11^th, 7.143 RPG), steals per game (12^th, 9.643), blocks per game (18^th, 3.536), and total rebounds per game (40.321). The Bulldogs are led in scoring by Senior Guard Mike Reece, who averages 13.61 points per game. Senior Forward Antowine Lamb also averages in double figures with 10.25 points per game. Lamb leads the conference in rebounding with 8.46 rebounds per game. Senior Guard Marlon Dominique leads the team with 3.61 assists per game. All three players were named first team All-Conference. McPherson College finished second in the KCAC regular season.

Dakota Wesleyan University ranks in the top 10 in assists per game (10^th, 16.969), total assists (5^th, 543), assist to turnover ratio (3^rd, 1.318), field goal percentage (6^th, 49.1%), blocks per game (4^th, 4.938), and total blocks (4^th, 158). The Dakota Wesleyan Tigers are led by Junior Guard Darrin Dorsey. Dorsey won the Great Plains Athletic Conference Player of the Year award, as well as Co-Defensive Player of the Year. Dorsey averaged 18.34 points per game, 2.84 steals per game, and led the team with 5.75 assists per game. Junior Forward Brady Wiebe was second on the team in scoring with 18.03 points per game and led the team in rebounding with 9.94 rebounds per game. Dakota Wesleyan University, GPAC Tournament Champions, has won 16 straight games.